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Photo: Beth Saravo

Dirty pop songs are so back, and Tate McRae’s “Sports car” is living proof. Even as the third single from the artist’s upcoming album, SO CLOSE TO WHAT, “Sports car” stands out. It’s addictive from the jump and brings back the nostalgia of the 2000s while still sounding fresh and entirely modern. 

The lyrics are, for lack of a better word, sexy. Not only that, but they’re exceptionally clever and spill out from the pop star like a flirty conversation, “Hey, cute jeans / Take mine off me / Oh, golly gee / I can't take no more, I'm goin' weak in my knees / Where'd you put those keys?” The pre-chorus is also up-front and bold, simply listing all the places McRae wants to, as she says it, “uh-uh.” It’s suggestive without being explicit, playful, yet deliberate. A classic and effortless tease. 

The highlight, almost undoubtedly, is the whispered chorus. It stands out, even among the catchy verses of innuendos. It’s unexpected at first—almost jarring—but then it clicks into place. It’s seductive, secretive, and absolutely genius. While many pop songs explode in the chorus, “Sports car” does the opposite, focusing on the production and nature of the song, ultimately proving that sometimes, less is more.

Tate McRae is a siren, and we, her willing victims, are all entranced. SO CLOSE TO WHAT arrives on February 21. 

Listen to “Sports car” below: